Thousands of voters were fed up with the way the country was being run, but could nevertheless not be persuaded to vote for the Nationalist Party, possibly because people were losing faith in politics and in both major political parties, Alternattiva Demokratika saidtoday.

At a press conference in Valletta for the launch of the party’s electoral campaign, AD chairman Arnold Cassola said that the party was offering disillusioned Labour voters an option that was more palatable than voting for the PN.

“Imagine it the other way around, having been a Nationalist voter one’s entire life and then being told the only way was to vote red,” he said. “Some people just can’t do it.”

Until last week, had been in discussion with the PN about a possible coalition that would also include the Democratic Party, which chose to contest the election under the Nationalist ticket. Discussions appeared to fall apart after AD insisted on a full coalition under a new party name and banner.

Cassola confirmed that during the negotiations, AD had urged the PN and PD to consider changing the coalition’s name, since many voters would not feel comfortable voting under the Nationalist flag.

He said that the party’s manifesto was solely based on a clean political structure and public life as well as the environment. “The point is, we are here for those who really want to show they care about transparency and clean governance,” he said.

AD deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo explained that the party’s electoral manifesto was still being finalised, but said it would focus mainly on ensuring that the country’s institutions go back to being under the jurisdiction of Parliament, instead of being under the total control of the government, as had happened in this legislature.

“The party will also be putting forward a number of serious proposals on social issues and the environment,” he said.